I actually like change. It’s inevitable. Nothing stays the same for long. So, when change happens I just roll with the punches and adjust to my new reality.

Uncertainty on the other hand….

It drives me frickin’ nuts. I hate when things are up in the air or when I’m dealing with someone who can’t commit to a course of action.

Walk up to me and say, “You have to move to Siberia tomorrow. Pack your bags,” and, after I get over the initial shock and ask you WTH, I’ll pack my bags, take care of whatever needs taken care of, and move.

Walk up to me and say, “You may have to move to Siberia sometime soon. No idea when. And it could still fall through,” after about two weeks without a firm answer, I’ll be ready to kill you.

It’s why I hate working for indecisive bosses. I don’t necessarily like working for stupid bosses, but at least if they’re consistent in their stupidity I can work around them. But the type that tells you on Monday to do X and then talks to someone and changes their mind and tells you to do Y on Tuesday and then decides you should maybe do Z on Wednesday. That’s the person I can’t work for.

Or the person who won’t tell you anything. Equally infuriating.

Because you can never gain momentum when you’re dealing with uncertainty. Do you put all your effort into the path your currently on? If that’s your new reality, yes. You figure out the new rules and you move forward.

But if no one can tell you which direction you’re supposed to go in or you know the path will likely change tomorrow, then, you just founder, never able to move forward.

My reaction to uncertainty? Make a decision, pick a direction, and go with it. Worst that can happen is failure.

And if I don’t have the power to do that and the person who does can’t get it together to do so? Then, if at all possible, I get the hell out of the situation. Even if that’s detrimental to me. Because I’d rather be moving forward than chasing my tail and getting nowhere.